Kalanchoe plant named ‘Malabar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Malabar’, characterized by its numerous, large, and intense red-colored flowers; upright and uniform plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green and glossy leaves; early flowering; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Malabar’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new freely-branching Kalanchoe cultivarswith compact plant habit, numerous flowers, and attractive foliage andflower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1996of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Juliana, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 10,228, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Tenorio, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,617,as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Malabar was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken atDe Lier, The Netherlands, since 1996 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Malabar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Malabar’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Malabar’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous, large, and intense red-colored flowers.

2. Upright and uniform plant habit.

3. Freely branching growth habit.

4. Dark green and glossy leaves.

5. Early flowering.

6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Juliana. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoediffer from plants of the cultivar Juliana in the followeringcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have a stronger root system than plantsof the cultivar Juliana.

2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have stronger leaves than plants of thecultivar Juliana.

3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of thecultivar Juliana.

4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have better keeping quality than plantsof the cultivar Juliana.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Kalanchoe is intense red whereasflower color of plants of the cultivar Juliana is dark red.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar Tenorio. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoediffer from plants of the cultivar Tenorio in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact and more uniform thanplants of the cultivar Tenorio.

2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants of thecultivar Tenorio.

3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have better keeping quality than plantsof the cultivar Tenorio.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the cultivarSumaco, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 29/778,209 submittedconcurrently with this application in plant size and flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Debbie, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,428. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands,plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the cultivar Debbie inthe following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than plants ofthe cultivar Debbie.

2. Inflorescence form of plants of the new Kalanchoe is not as open asinflorescence form of plants of the cultivar Debbie.

3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower about one week earlier than plantsof the cultivar Debbie.

4. Flower color of plants of the new Kalanchoe is darker and moreintense red than flower color of plants of the cultivar Debbie.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical potted plant of ‘Malabar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Unpinched plants used for thephotograph and for the description were grown during the autumn in DeLier, The Netherlands, in a glass-covered greenhouse. During theproduction of the plants, the following measurements were recorded: daytemperatures about 19 to 26° C.; night temperatures about 20 to 21° C.;and light levels about 10,000 to 50,000 lux. Unrooted cuttings weredirectly stuck in 10-cm containers and received long day/short nightconditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about 22 days; plants thenreceived photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 14 weeks old from anunrooted cutting when the photograph and the description were taken.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Malabar.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Juliana,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,288.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Tenorio,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,617.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 21° C. Winter: About 14days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 21 days at 21° C.Winter: About 28 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright and uniform plant habit, relatively compact, with numerouscompound cymes; very freely flowering. Inverted triangle with roundedcrown; actual plant shape will depend on whether or not plants arepinched (apical terminals removed). Appropriate for 10 to 15-cmcontainers.

Crop time.—About 11 to 14 weeks: 3 to 4 weeks under long day/short nightconditions followed by 8 to 10 weeks of short day/long night conditions.Moderate growth rate.

Plant height at flowering.—About 18 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.

Branching habit.—Freely branching; typically 6 to 7 lateral branchesdevelop per plant. Pinching (removal of terminal apex) is not requiredbut will enhance lateral branch development.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 12 to 15 cm. Diameter: About 3to 6 cm. Internode length: About 2 to 3 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength:Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Quantity per plant: About 8 to 13 mature leaves and 12 to 18 generativeleaves. Length: About 10 cm. Width: About 8 cm. Aspect: Concave. Shape:Ovate to elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Crenate. Texture:Leathery, glabrous and succulent. Color: Young and mature foliage, uppersurface: 147A; venation, 147A to 147B. Young and mature foliage, lowersurface: 147B; ventaion, 147B. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiolediameter: About 4 by 8 mm. Petiole color: Upper surface, 147A to 147B;lower surface, 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes that arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering; more than 25 openflowers per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers per plant.Flowering continuously for at least 7 weeks. Flowers persistent. Flowersnot fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe initiate anddevelop flowers under short day/long night conditions or during the lateautumn/winter/early spring. Flower initiation and development can alsobe induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at least 14hours of darkness).

Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive conditions,about 8 to 10 weeks are required. Actual time to flower is primarilydependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production longevity; plantsmaintain good foliage and flower substance for about 48 days underinterior environmental conditions. Individual flowers last about 15 dayson the plant.

Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.

Flower height.—About 1.6 cm.

Flower buds.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid withdevelopment. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Color: Initially,138C, then 41D with development.

Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 6mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin:Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth and satiny. Color: When opening andfully opened, upper surface: 44A; flower color does not fade withsubsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:44C.

Sepals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2mm. Aspect: Erect. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture:Glabrous, smooth. Color, both surfaces: 138D.

Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect: Erect.Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, leathery. Color: 138B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight per flower. Anthershape: Flat, elliptic. Anther size: About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to150D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils: Pistil number:Four per flower. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: 138D. Stigmashape: Flat, rounded. Stigma color: 8D. Ovary color: 138D.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observedto be resistant to pathogens common to Kalanchoes.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been observed totolerate low temperatures of 12° C. and high temperatures of 35° C.

Garden performance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe perform have beenobserved to perform well in the garden and are tolerant to rain andwind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named‘Malabar’, as illustrated and described.